Signaling system.



No 795,314. PATBNTED JULY 25; 1905,

H. W. SOUDBR. SIGNALING SYSTEM APYLIOATIOE FILED SEPT. 27, 1904.

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PATENTED JULY 25, 1905/.

H. W. SOUDER.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 27,1904.

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l/vi 'lwmo sea 1 N0. 795,314. I'ATENTED JULY 25, I905. H. W. SOUDER.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1904. 7

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119.795.314- PATENTED JULY 25, 1905.

H. W. SOUDER. SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 27, 1904.

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PATENTED JULY 25; 1905 H. W; somasfi, SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27,1904- 6 SHEETS-S EBET 5.

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.iPPL-ZGATION FILED SEPT. 27,1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWVELL W. SOUDER, OF TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO WV. D. ZEHNER, 'OF LANSFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1905.

To all whom it DMZ/{j concern:

Be it known that I, HOWELL W. SoUDER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to electric signaling apparatus; and, more specifically, it consists of certain improvements on the system described in my copending application, Serial No. 209,987, filed May 26, 1904, and includes certain improved forms of circuitcontrolling apparatus whereby the signal-circuits and the magnet-circuits are all operated by one set of mechanism mounted on one base, all parts being of simple construction, operated by gravity, and easy of access for replacement and repair.

The preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention, with certain modifications as to detail, is illustrated in the accompanying siX sheets of drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a diagram showing connections for one block of a trolley-road equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of a circuit-controller. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a back elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail of the alternating switch and a diagram of its connections. Fig. 6 is an end View of one magnet-circuit controller in normal position. Fig. 7 is an end view of the other magnet-circuit controller in position assumed when its magnet is energized. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the switch-operating mechanism and means by which the ratchetwheel actuates the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of magnet-circuit controller, and Fig. 10 is an end view of the same.

Throughout the drawings like referencefigures indicate like parts.

1 represents the trolley-wire, which in this case is also the feed-wire.

2 2 represent contact-making devices at each end of the block, having the insulated sections 2 2 and 2 2, respectively, to which circuitcontroller operating connections 3, 3", 3, and 3 are attached.

is the feed connection for the signal-circuit at the east end of the block, and 16 that at the west end of the block.

14 is the ground connection for the signalcircuit at the east end, and 14 that at the west end, of the block.

13 is the ground connection for the magnet-circuits at the east end, and 13 that at the west end, of the block.

5 5 are the circuit-controller magnets at the east end of the block, and 5 5 those at the west end.

4, 4 4, and 4 are resistances in circuit with the corresponding magnets to cut down the volume of current.

6 is a bridge-wire connecting each circuitcontroller with the resetting-magnet of the other circuit-controller.

7 7, &c., are fuses inserted in the various circuits.

8 is the signal-wire extending along the block and including the signal-lamps 79 79,

620. At the east end this wire 8 is diVide d,,--

into multiple branches 8 and 8", including green lamps 79 and 79", respectively. At the west end wire 8 is divided into multiple branches 8 and 8", including green lamps 79 and 79 respectively.

79 represents two red lamps in the signalcirc'uit ground connection at the east end of the block, and 79 represents two red lamps in the ground connection at the West end of the block.

22, 22 25", 11 13 14, and 3l are switch-gaps in the east circuit-controller adapted to be closed by any one of the several forms of switch-bridging members hereinafter described, and 22, 25, 22 25 11, 13 14", 30 and 31 are similar switchgaps in the west circuit-controller.

53 is a resistance permanently included in the ground connection 13 of the resettingmagnet 5 of the east controller and adapted to be short-circuited by closing the shunt switch-gap 13 In the west controller 53 is a similar resistance in the ground connection of the resetting-magnet 5 adapted to be short-circuited by closing the shunt switchgap 13.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5, 32 is a switch-closing gap 30, and 33 is a switch-closing gap 31, pivoted at 34 34 and alternately operated by a vibrating system of levers comprising the bell-crank lever 35 39, pivoted at 37, and the similar lever 36 40, pivoted at 38, actuated by star-wheel 44, cooperating with pins 41 and 42, carried by the arms 39 and 40 of the levers, which arms are connected by an adjustable spring 43. As shown in Figs.

4 and 5, there is suflicient lost motion between the arms 35 36 of the bell-crank levers and the switch-levers 33 32 to permit one switch to close before the other is opened. As shown in diagram in Fig. 5, feed branch 9 of the feed-wire is connected to branch 8 of the signal-circuit or light-circuit through switch-gap 31 and through extension 19 is connected to branch 8 through switch-gap For clearness in Fig 5 these connections are shown passing through switchlevers 33 32, though in reality the current passes across the gaps shown in Fig. 1. The effect of rotation of the star-wheel 44 will be to alternately extinguish and light up lamps 79 and 79, one of them being always in glow. The star-wheel 44 is mounted on shaft 60, which also carries the ratchet-wheel 59. This is controlled by pawl-levers 45 and 46, carrying the magnet-circuit controllers 47 and 48 at their outer ends and pivoted at 49 50. At their inner ends each pawl-lever carries a pivoted tooth consisting of two parts 51 -53 or 52 54, extending substantially at right angles one to another and pivoted to the pawl-levers at 55 56. Each pawl-lever carries an armature, such as 57 or 57", (see Fig. 2,) which is attracted by its magnet when the latter is energized.

-Each magnet-circuit controller may con sist of conducting-strips, (shown in Figs. 6 and 7,) cooperating with three contact-springs or of a rocking switch-lever 87, pivoted at 85 and controlled by weighted pin 86, loosely fitting in a hole 86 through the pawl-levers.

Referring to Fig. 8, the ratchet-wheel 59 is provided with a pin 61, which strikes crank 62 on shaft 65 and forces it against stop-pin 63, set in housing 64. The other end of shaft 65 is journaled in housing 66, and said shaft carries a wiper 67 and adjustable counterweight 68. This wiper 67 cooperates with arm 69, projecting from shaft 70, which is journaled in housings 71 72. Shaft carries lever 73, provided at one end with adjustable counterweight 74. The other end 75 when depressed strikes the tail of switch-lever 78, pivoted at and forming the shunt or shortcircuiting switch-bridging gap 13". Shaft 70 also carries two-armed lever 81, cooperating with switch 82, pivoted at 84 and bridging gap 11 in the feed connection, and switch 83, pivoted at 85 and bridging gap 14 in signalcircuit ground connection.

In Fig. 6, 103 is a binding-post and attached contact-spring, to which wire 3 is connected. 123 is a binding-post and attached contact-spring to which the wire 23 of Fig. 1 is connected. 104 is a binding-post and attached contact-spring to which resistance 4 and magnet 5 are connected. In Fig. 7, 103" is the post to which wire 3 is connected, and the post 123 is connected to wire 23 of Fig. 1, while post 104 is connected to resistance 4 and magnet 5. 7

1n the modification shown in Fig. 9 wire 3 is connected to branch contacts 103 103, and

the connections of 104 and 123 are as above described.

The mode of operation of my invention is as follows: Assuming the circuit-controllers to be in their normal position, (represented in. Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) the gaps 11 and 11' in the feed connections are open and the gaps 14 and 14 in the signal ground connections are closed. The short-circuiting switch-gaps 13 and 12 are open and one of the alternating switch-gaps, as 30 is closed in the east circuit-controller, while the other, 31 is open and one of the alternating switch-gaps, as 30, in the west circuit-controller is closed, while the other, 31", is open. The magnet-circuitcontrolling gaps 22 and 22 in the east circuit-controller and 22 and 22 in the west circuit-controller are closed and the other magnet-circuit-controlling gaps 25, 25 25, and 25 are open. Consequently no current is supplied to any of the signal-lamps. If a car enters the block at the east end, its trolleywheel establishes contact with the section 2" of the contact-maker 2 and current passes through the wire 3, across the gap 22, through wire 23, resistance 4, magnet 5, and magnet ground connection 13 to the ground, as indicated by the arrow at 22. This energizes magnet 5 to its full power and causes it to attract the armature 57 on the pawl-lever 45, throwing said pawl-lever into a horizontal position. This first opens the gap 22 and bridges gap 25 as indicated by small arrow at 25 in Fig.1 and as shown in Fig. 7. Accordingly when the trolley-wheel passes onto contact 2 the current goes through wire 3", binding-post 103 across gap 25 to binding-post 104, through resistance 4 and magnet 5 to the ground, thus retaining the circuit-controller in its adjusted position as long as there is contact with either of the sections 2 or 2*of the contact-maker. The throwing of the pawl-lever 45 into a horizontal position also causes the pawltooth 51 to rise and actuate the ratchet-wheel 59 through a rotation of one tooths distance until the stop-tooth 53 comes into engagement with the ratchet-wheel and stops further rotation. The rotation of the ratchet-wheel 59 first causes a rotation of its shaft 60 and of the star-wheel 44. This causes the vibratinglever system (shown in detail in Fig. 5) to shift to the right into the position there shown, the pin 42 riding up on top of a tooth on said starwheel and the pin 41 falling into a depression between two teeth. This operates the switch 32 to open the gap 30 after the switch 33 has been dropped and closed the gap 31 as shown by the small arrow at that point. The same rotation of the ratchet-wheel has removed the pin 61 one step to the left (looking at Fig. 8) and released the crank-arm 62, so that the counterweight 68 falls, partially rotating the shaft 65 and removing the wiper 67 from engagement with the projecting arm 69 of the shaft 70. The counterweight 74 on the lever 73 then falls, partially rotating the shaft 70, swinging the lever 81 to lift the switch 83 so as to open the gap 1 1 in the ground connection of the signal-circuit and also to drop the switch 82 so as to close the gap 11 in the signal-circuit fced connection, as indicated by the small arrow. At the same time the end 75 of the lever 73 in rising releases the switch 78, which falls and closes the gap 13, thus short-circuiting the resistance 53. The parts being in this position, the signal-current passes through the wire 15, across gap 11 as shown by small arrow in Fig. 1,through wire 9, across gap 31 through branch 8, through green lamp 79, along signal-circuit 8, through lamps 79 79, through green lamp 79, branch 8, across gap 30, through wires 19 and 9, across gap 14, as shown by the arrow, through red lamps 79, and ground connection 1 L" to the ground. When the trolley-wheel leaves the contact at the east end of the block, the pawllever 45 returns to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 4;) but the ratchet-wheel 59 does not move, and the signal-circuit connections remain in the position above described while the car is passing through the block. If another car enters the block from the east end, following the first car, the pawl-lever 15 is again vibrated, repeating the before-described operation, with the effect that the pin 61 is moved another step away from the cranke62, but the signal-circuit feed and ground connections are not disturbed. When a car has traversed the block and its trolley-Wheel makes contact with the section 2 of the west contact-maker, current passes through the wire 3 across the gap 29. as shown by the arrow, along the wire 23 through the bridgewire 6. through resistance F, and magnet 5, of the east circuit-controller, through wire 17 through short-circuiting switch 7 8, across the gap 13' and wire 13* to the ground, thus energizing magnet 5 with its full power and cansing it to attract the armature 57" on the pawllever 46, with the result that the pivoted pawltooth 52 rotates the ratchet-wheel 59 back one tooth, and if only one car has entered the block this causes pin 61 to force crank 62 back against the stop 63, lifting the counterweight 68 and forcing wiper 67 down into contact with the projection 69 on the shaft 70, and reestablishing the normal position of the signal-circuit switches, as shown in Fig. 8. The current which passes through wires 3 and 23" also branches through resistance at and magnet 5"; but the circuit to ground being through wire 18 and resistance 53 the gap 13" being open, just sufficient current passes through the magnet 5 to pull up its corresponding pawl-lever until the pawl-tooth strikes the ratchet-wheel of the west circuit-controller; but it does not have sutlicient power to overcome the friction or drag of said ratchet-wheel and its connections and does not turn the same or affect the signalcircuit connections at the west end of the block.

The movement, however, is sufficient to pull down the magnet-circuit controller, opening the gap 22* and closing the gap 25, as shown by the small arrow in Fig. 1. Consequently when the trolley-Wheel passes on to a section 2 of the contact-maker current passes through the wire 3, across gap 25, and through the magnet 5 in a small quantity sufiicient to retain the magnet-circuit controller in its described position and sending the full current back through the bridge-wire 6 to the east circuit-controller to continue the operation initiated by the current which passed through the section W, as above described. If two or more cars are in the block, each car passing out produces a single tooth rotation of the ratchet-wheel 59 of the circuit-controller at the other end of the block until the last car forces the pin 61 into contact with the crank 62 and resets the signal-circuit connections. It is evident also that as the second car enters the east end of the block and rotates the ratchet-Wheel 59 another tooth, as above described, without changing the signal-circuit feed and ground connections 11 and 1 L it does rotate the star-wheel 44 another tooth,

thereby swinging the vibrating lever system (shown in Fig. 5) to the left. This will close the gap 30 and open the gap 31, sending the signal-current through the wire 8" and lamp 79", cutting out the green lamp 7 9. Accordingly the motorman of the second and of each succeeding car can tell by the extinction of one lamp and the lighting of its companion lamp that he has operated the circuit-control ler. This is an additional safety feature over the systems described in my previous applications and patents, since with them there was no way by which the motorman of the second and succeeding cars entering a block already' occupied could tell whether he had operated the circuit-controller at that end or not. Cars going in the opposite direction of course produce similar movements of the circuit-controllers, but in the opposite sense, inasmuch as the connections 3 and 3 are crossed, as shown in Fig. 1. The crossing of the signal-circuit wires permits me to use duplicate circuit-controllers for the two ends of the block. In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the operation is identical, of course, except that the bridging-pieces for gaps 22 and 25 rise and fall alternately instead of having the motion shown in Figs. 6 and '7, where they rise simultaneously or fall simultaneously, and a'break in the connection is caused by one of the opposite contact-springs passing on to an insulated section, shown as a heavy black rectangle. It will be observed that the stop-pawls 53 54talso act as counterweights for the actuating-pawls 51 and 52, holding them up into engagement with the ratchet-teeth on the upward stroke, but permitting them to swing back slightly on the downstroke sufficiently to clear the teeth over which they pass and then swinging the actuating-tooth back into operative position beneath the ratchet-teeth over the face of which it has passed on the downstroke.

The principle of operation of the system is the same as that described in my before-mentioned application, with the addition of the feature of the alternating green lamps 7 9, 7. 79", and 79".

The advantages of my invention comprise the additional safety feature introduced by the use of the alternating lamps, the elimination of all actuating-springs, which are apt to get out of adjustment, and substitution therefor of simple gravity-switches, which can be roughly made and yet operate with certainty to establish good contacts, together with the arrangement of all said switches upon a single base in a manner such that their operation can be easily examined and any one switch repaired or adjusted without disturbing the others.

It is evident, of course, that various changes could be made in the details of construction of the parts shown without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention so long as the principles of construction and operation above described be retained. Other vibrating systems for operating the alternating lamps might be employed and different means substituted for operating the signalcircuit-controlling switches and the magnetcircuit-controlling switches; but I have illustrated the best construction known to me at present.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a block-signal system for railways, the combination of a signal-conductor extending along the block, means for sending a current through said conductor on the entry of a car into the block, means for continuing said. current on the entry of additional cars into a block still occupied by a preceding car, a pair of telltale devices in multiple branch connection with the signal conductor and mechanism for cutting out that one of the telltale devices which is in circuit when a car enters the block, and cutting in the other telltale device.

2. In a block-signal system for railways, the combination of a signal-conductor extending along the block, means for sending a current through said conductor on the entry of a car into the block, means for continuingsaid current on the entry of additional cars into a block still occupied by a preceding car, a pair of incandescent lamps in multiple branch connection with the signal-conductor, a switch system arranged to connect with either one of said lamps, and mechanism operated by each car on entering the block to cut out that one of the lamps which is then in circuit and cut in the other.

3. In a block-signal system for railways, the combination of a signal-cond uctor for each block, including a series of electric lamps, a circuit-controller at each end of the block adapted to send a current through the lamps upon the entry of a car into the block and to maintain said current while the block is occupied, two pairs of lamps located one pair at each end of the block, the lamps of each pair being in multiple branch connection with the signal-conductor, a switch in the signal feed connection at each end of the block adapted to connect with either one of the multiple branch connections at that end, and connecting mechanism by which the switch is reversed every time the circuit-controller is operated by a passing car.

4. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-circuit having two terminal branches, a feed-circuit,two switches arranged to connect the feed-circuit with these branches, and electromagnetically-operated means for opening either switch after the other is closed.

5. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-circuit having two terminal branches, afeed-circuit, two switches arranged to connect the feed circuit with these branches, and electromagnetically-operated means for opening either switch after the other is closed, said means comprising a star-wheel and operative connections between said switches and the teeth of said star-wheel.

6. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-circuit having two terminal branches, afeed-circuit, two switches arranged to connect the feed circuit with these branches, and electromagnetically-oper ated means for opening either switch after the other is closed, said means comprising a star-wheel, a pair of bell-crank levers on opposite sides of said star-wheel, each of said bell-crank levers having one arm engaging the tail of a switch-lever, and the other arm engaging the teeth of the star-wheel, a spring connecting the bell-crank arms so engaging the star-wheel, and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for rotating the star-wheel a half-tooth at each operation.

7. In an electric signaling device, the combination of a signal-circuit controller, comprising two electromagnets, a magnet-circuit controller, and mechanism which when actuated by either magnet to throw the signal-circuit controller also operates the magnet-circuit controller of that magnet.

8. In an electric signaling device, the combination of a signal-circuit controller operated by a ratchet wheel and gravity-pawl, the pawl having a partial movement before engaging the ratchet-wheel teeth, and a magnet-circuit controller carried by said pawl and operated by its partial movement.

9. In an electric signaling device, the con1- bination of a ratchet-wheel, a magnet, a pawllever operated by the magnet and a double pawl-tooth pivoted on said lever, the two parts of the tooth extending substantially at right angles each to the other, one constituting the actuating-tooth and the other the stop-tooth and counterweight for the actuating-tooth.

10. The combination of a pivoted switchactuating lever, a projecting arm on said lever, a pivoted wiper cooperating with the projecting arm to hold the switch-actuating lever in one position, an adjustable counterweight for holding the wiper out of action, and magneto-electric means for throwing the wiper into action.

11. The combination of a pivoted switchactuating lever, a projecting arm on said lever, a pivoted wiper cooperating with the projecting arm to hold the switch-actuating lever in one position, an adjustable counterweight for throwing the wiper out of action, and magneto-electric means for throwing the wiper into action, said means comprising a crank on the pivot-shaft of the wiper, a ratchet-wheel having a projection engaging said crank, and gravity-pawls connected to the magnet-armatures and cooperating with the ratchet-Wheel.

12. In an electric signal-controller, the combination of the signal-circuit ground connection, the resetting-magnet, a permanent ground connection for the resetting-magnet, a resistance in said permanent ground connection, a shunt around said resistance, switches controlling both said shunt and the signalcircuit ground connection, and means operating to close either switch when the other is opened.

13. In an electric signal controller, the combination of the signal-circuit ground connection, the resetting-magnet, a permanent ground connection for the resetting-magnet, a resistance in said permanent ground connection, a shunt around said resistance, switches controlling both said shunt and the signalcircuit ground connection, and means operating to close either switch when the other is opened, said means comprising two switchactuating levers mounted on the same pivotshaft, a projecting arm from said shaft, a pivoted wiper cooperating with the projecting arm to hold the shunt-switch open and the ground-switch closed, an adjustable counterweight for throwing the wiper out of action, and magneto-electric means for throwing the wiper into action.

14:. The combination of two gravity-closing switches, a vibrating system of levers located between the switches and adapted to open them alternately, suflicient lost motion being provided to permit either switch to close before the other is opened.

Signed at Lansford, Pennsylvania, this 23d day of September, 1904:.

HOWELL W. SOUDER. l/Vitnesses WALTER B. DRUMHELLEE, JEREMIAH F. WERNER. 

